Vanity case



29, 1936. A. F. REM Re. 20222 VAN ITY CASE Original Filed March 15',1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR (Alfred 1' Reilly BY ,Vag fuz.

ATTORNEYS 7 Dec. 29, 1936. A. REILLY VANITY CASE '2 Sheets-Sheet 2Original Filed March 15, 1932 INVENTOR 10311261 1 Rail/y ATTORNEYSReissued Dec. 29, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VANITY CASE OriginalNo. 2,001,690, dated May 14, 1935, Serial No. 598,910, March 15, 1932.Application for reissue June 27, 1936, Serial No. 87,912

18 Claims.

This invention relates to vanity cases, and with regard to certainspecific features to a flexible pouch adapted to form part of a vanitycase.

One object of the invention is to provide an attractive vanity case.Another object of the invention is to provide a vanity case which may betightly sealed. Another object of the invention is to provide a vanitycase which shall occupy but a small space. Other objects will be in partobvious or in part pointed out hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is shown one of various possibleembodiments of the mechanical features of this invention.

Fig. l is a front elevation of a vanity case constructed in accordancewith the invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the inside of the vanity case and its cover;

Figure 3 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 33of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale taken onthe line 4--4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevation on an enlarged scale, showingan unfastened device;

Figure 6 is a front view of the unfastening device;

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing theconstruction of a mirror retaining ring;

Figure 8 is a front elevation of a modified form of vanity case showingthe cover in open position;

Figure 9 is a sectional view of the vanity case of Figure 8 on anenlargedscale, showing the cover in closed position, the section throughthe cover being on the line 99 of Figure 8 and the section through thebottom part being parallel thereto;

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line|0||l of Figure 8;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view showing a side elevation of a catch;

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views of the drawings.

Referring first to Figure 3, I provide a piece of flexible imperviousmaterial 20, preferably leather. This material, in a manner which willbe hereinafter more fully described, is so shaped that it may be said tolie in or have a surface of the second order, byreason of which,although made of a single piece and having no seam, fold or pucker, itis in the shape of a bag or pouch as shown. The expression surface ofthe second order is a mathematical one and denotes a surface which, forexample, could not be made by any amount of folding of a piece of paper.It

should be noted that while a cylindrical surface is a surface of thefirst order, a seamless cylinder cannot be made from a flat, membranousmaterial without change of condition of that material, and thus theexistence of a seamless cylindrical portion such as the portion 20a ofthe material 20 distinguishes it in kind from ordinary fiat materialwhich is cut and sewn, puckered or similarly treated to force it toassume such a shape.

The material 20 likewise has an annular circumferential portion 20bwhose surface, after the material is formed, is in a plane and thus is asur face of the first order, this portion 20b merging with and beingseamlessly integral with the remainder of the material 20.

Still referring to Figure 3, I provide a ring 2| which is preferably ofa single piece of metal and has extending around its entirecircumference an upper and inwardly extending portion 22, and a lowerinwardly extending portion 23 that likewise extends around the entirecircumference of the ring 2| and preferably further toward the centerthan does the portion 22. The portion 20b of the material 2|) is held bythe ring 2| between the upper and lower portions 22 and 23, and byreason of the underlapping of the lower portion 23, portion 20b of thematerial 20 is supported by the ring 2|, and its upper surface inwardlyand beyond the end of the upper portion 22 constitutes a gasket 24,preferably of leather, to create a tight seal at this point, bycooperation with cover elements that will be hereinafter described, forthe compartment 25 formed by the material 20 which as shown extendsdownwardly from the ring 2|.

Preferably, as indicated in Figures 3 and 4, the upper portion 22 isrounded over having a curled over portion 22a which bites into theleather 20b thus holding the pouch 2|l securely to the ring 2|. For theassembly of these two parts, the portions 22 and 23 of the ring 2| areinitially spaced apart so as to allow the portion 20b to be insertedbetween them, and when this has been done they are pressed together witha press and the portion 22a bites into the leather and securely holdsthe leather to the ring 2|. Preferably also, the under portions 23 isrolled upwardly after the insertion of the fiat portion 20b of theleather, thus to form with the curled over portion 22a a lock tosecurely hold the pouch.

Referring now to Figures 1, 2 and '4, a hinge element 26 is attached toor formed integral with the ring 2|. Preferably, in order to avoid theuse of solder or the like, this hinge element 26 is formed by pressingoutwardly a portion of the circumference of the ring 2|, and thencutting substantially triangular shaped pieces out of opposite sides ofa central portion which thus constitutes the hinge element and throughwhich may be passed a hinge pin 21. A cover which is generallydesignated by the numeral 28 has a pair of hinge elements 29, 29 whichpreferably are integral with it to avoid the use of solder, and by meansof the parts described cover 28 is hinged to the ring 2|.

The cover 28 in this particular embodiment of the invention comprises adisc-like piece of sheet metal 30 having an outer peripheral portion 3|bounded on the inside by an annular indentation 32, the central portionof the sheet metal being desirably slightly bulged as shown in Figures 1and 3 to give strength to the cover and to enhance the appearancethereof. The hinge elements 29, 29 may be made by striking downwardly aportion of the metal of the cover; in other words, when the cover isinitially cut, projecting portions are left in the otherwise circularpiece of metal. v

Referring now to Figure 3, suitably secured to the sheet metal 30, as bysoldering, is an annular seat member 33 preferably of metal, which whenthe cover 28 is closed presses against the leather gasket 24 thussecurely sealing the compartment 25. This annular seat member 33 has adepending portion 34 and an inwardly extending portion 35 which is thusspaced from the underside of the sheet metal member 3|). In the space sodefined fits a mirror 36 which is held therein by a mirror holding ring31 which firmly grips the mirror and also provides means for firmattachment to the portion 35 of the annular seat member 33.

Referring now to Figures 3 and 7, the mirror retaining ring 31 ispreferably formed of a single piece of metal and, considered incross-section at any point, the mirror ring includes an arcuate lowerportion 38 merging into a flat upper portion 38 from which extendsvertically upward a cylindrical portion 40, the latter being spaced fromthe outside edge of the portion 38 leaving a marginal peripheral part38a of the portion 38 extending outwardly beyond the outside of thecylindrical portion 48. At a plurality of points in the circumference ofthe cylindrical portion 40, preferably three or more, are integralupward extensions 4|. The mirror 36 is of a size to fit inside thecylindrical portion 48 and to be supported by the portion 39 of themirror ring 31, and is secured to the mirror ring 31 by bending over theextensions 4|, which thus comprise tabs to hold the mirror firmly inplace. In the outside of the cylindrical portion 48 are formed .aplurality of snaps 42 which may be located in alignment with the tabs 4|and preferably are made by indenting the inner side of the cylindricalportion with a tool which is so shaped that the snaps constitutesegments of cones with their bases on the bottom. The outer diameter ofthe cylindrical portion 40 is less by a slight margin than the innerdiameter of the opening defined by the ledge 35, and when the mirrorring 31 is placed in this opening and forced with a certain degree ofpressure into it, the snaps 42 give enough to allow it to go into placewith the portion 39 against the portion 35, and when that is done themirror 36 is firmly attached to the cover 28.

Referring now to Figure 5, extending from the periphery of the outerportion 3| of the cover 28 and preferably opposite the hinge elements 29is a downwardly extending loop 43 which may be and preferably isintegral with the sheet adapted to embrace the outer rounded edge of thering 2| and to hold the cover 28 resiliently in closed position, and atthe same time it constitutes a pivotal mounting for an unfasteningdevice 44 to permit ready opening of the vanity case. Referring now toFigure 6, this unfastening device 44 includes a looped handle 45 havinga pair of inwardly extending arms 46, 46 between which extends in anintermediate position thereof a cross member 41 adapted to be receivedin the loop 43 for the mounting of the opening device 44. Referring toFigure 2, preferably the loop 43 has a slot 48 in the outer portionthereof through which extends a lug 49 (see Figure 6) formed integrallywith the pivotal cross piece 41, this lug constituting a stop to preventthe handle part 45 of the opening device 44 from being raised beyond acertain position. The opening device 44 may be attached to the loop 43by closing the latter after the cross piece 41 and the lug 49 are placedin position.

When it is. desired to close the cover 28, the peripheral portion 3| andthe ring 2| are pressed together with the fingers and the coverautomatically closes, and it is noted that interference with the closingaction by the arms 46, 46 and the opening device 44 is prevented bymeans of the lug 49. When it is desired to open the vanity case, thehandle 45 is raised, which depresses the arms 48, 46 the inside ends ofwhich are in contact with the upper portion of the ring 2|, and thedevice acts as a pry to force the cover and ring 2| apart.

Referring now to Figures 2 and 3, the material 20 constitutes a pouchfor the reception of loose powder 50 and also, if desired, a powder puff5|. The powder puif may be of any suitable form, desirably of some softmaterial and desirably has a ribbon or other holding device 52. Byreason of the tight seal between the gasket 24 and the seal member 33,it is practically impossible for powder to escape from the vanity case.It will be noted that all metal parts are located in a disc-like portionof very little width when the cover 28 is in closed position, andconsequently the article can be compressed into a very small space. Thepowder puff used may be itself compressible or a very thin one may beemployed if desired.

Referring now to Figures 8 to 11 inclusive a modification is thereinillustrated having certain of the features already described and certain additional desirable features. The material 20 may be andpreferably is the same as the material already described in connectionwith the embodiment of Figures 1 to 7 inclusive, and other parts notspecifically mentioned may be the same as already described inconnection with the embodiment of Figures 1 to '7 inclusive Referringnow more particularly to Figure 9, a metal ring 54 has a downwardlyextending cylindrical portion 55 and an outwardly extending peripheralportion 56. The portion 58 is located between the portion 20b of thematerial 20 and the portion 22 of the ring 2|. In this manner the ring54 is firmly attached to the ring 2| upo-n assembly of the material 28and these two rings. Extending circumferentially around the ring 54 asis better indicated in Figure 8 are a plurality of holes for theattachment to the ring 54 of links 51. The links 51 constitute the upperlinks of a mesh bag 58 which may be of metal or other suitable material.This metal mesh 58 not only gives the article an attractive appearancebut also protects the material 20 from wear, without interfering withthe collapsibility of the vanity case as a whole. The vanity case isindicated in a collapsed position in Figure 9.

The cover 28 of the modification now being described may retain a mirrorsuch as the mirror 36, but as shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10 there isprovided a rouge holding member Bilwhich interlocks with the ring 31 inthe same manner as does the mirror 38. The member desirably comprises acylindrical portion 6|, an outwardly extending portion 62, and aU-shaped portion 63 in the form of an integral ring, the outer edge ofthe U-shaped portion 63 being retained between the tabs 4| and theportion 39 of the ring 38. The cylindrical portion SI and the inside 30of the cover define a compartment 64 for the reception of rouge 65adhering to a disc- 66. Referring to Figure 9, a portion of the metal 62is struck downwardly and rolled over to form one or more hinge members81 by means of which a metal disc -68 having corresponding hinge members69 (see now Figure 8) is hinged to the member 60 by a hinge pin Ill. Thedisc 68 constitutes a cover for the compartment 54 and may be polishedto present a mirrored surface.

Referring now to Figures 8, 9 and 10, struck downwardly from the portion62 of the member 60 is a tab II adapted to receive and hold in positionthe mirror cover 68 which, however, may be opened by inserting thefinger nail under a downwardly bent portion 12 constituting an openingdevice.

Referring now to Figures 8 and 11, another style of opening device isshown constituting a U-shaped piece of wire 13 which is secured in anydesired manner as by soldering to the ring 2|, the front portion thereofbeing inclined upwardly from the plane of the ring 2|. When the member13 and the loop 43 are grasped between two fingers and pressed togetherthe cover 28 is opened.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided by this invention anarticle, in which the various objects hereinabove set forth, togetherwith many thoroughly practical advantages, are successfully achieved.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the mechanical featuresof the above invention, all without departing from the scope of theinvention, it is to be understood that all matters hereinbefore setforth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted asillustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In an article of the class described, in combination, means formingan annular metallic ring, an annular support element secured in saidring, and a lined metallic mesh pouch having its edge portion secured tosaid support element.

2. In an article of the class described, in combination, an annularmetallic ring, an annular support element secured in said ring andhaving spaced openings, a lined metallic mesh pouch comprising aplurality of connected link members, and means extending through saidopenings and connected to the edge portion of said mesh pouch.

3. In an article of the class described, in combination, means forming asubstantially circular metallic ring and including an annular dependingflange, a lined metallic mesh pouch comprising a plurality of links, andsubstantially circular means connected to substantially the edge portionof' said pouch and said flange to secure said pouch to said means.

4. In an article of the class described, in combination, a substantiallycircular metallic ring member, gripping means extending radially of saidring member toward the center thereof, a supporting ring secured to saidring member by said gripping means and including a downwardly extendingflange portion, and a lined metallic mesh pouch secured to said flangeportion.

5. In an article of the class described, in combination, a substantiallycircular metallic ring member, gripping means extending radially of saidring member toward the center thereof, a

' supporting ring secured to said ring member by said gripping means anddepending therefrom, said supporting ring including a downwardlyextending annular flange portion having a plu rality of perforationsformed therein, a lined metallic mesh pouch including a plurality oflink members, and means connected to some. of said link members andextending through said perforations for securing said pouch to saidsupporting ring.

6. In an article of the class described, in combination, a ring membersubstantially U-shaped in cross section having its spaced edgesextending inwardly toward the center thereof, a pouch having its edgefitting into said ring member and depending downwardly therefrom, anannular member one portion of which fits into said ring member andanother portion of which depends downwardly from the lower inner edgethereof, said edge portions of said ring member gripping saidfirst-mentioned portion of said annular member and'the edge portion ofsaid pcuch to hold them against displacement, a piece of mesh coveringsaid pouch and comprising a plufrality of links, and a substantiallycircular connected to some of the links of the said pouch and extendingthrough perforations formed in said second-mentioned portion of saidannular member to hold said piece in position.

7. In an article of the class described, in combination, means forming asubstantially circular metallic ring including an annular downwardlydepending flange, a pouch impervious to face powder or the like havingits edge portion secured to said means, and a piece of mesh coveringsaid pouch and having its edge portion secured to said flange.

8. In an article of the class described, in combination, means forming asubstantially circular ring and including an annular depending flange, apouch impervious to face powder or the like attached to said ring anddepending therefrom, a mesh pouch covering said first mentioned pouchand comprising a plurality of link parts, and substantially circularmeans connected to substantially the edge portion of said secondmentioned pouch and said flange to secure said pouch to said means.

9. In an article of the class described, in combination, a ring memberincluding gripping means extending radially of said ring member, asupporting ring secured to said ring member by said gripping means anddepending downwardly therefrom to form an annular flange portion, apouch impervious to face powder or the like and secured to said ringmember by said gripping means, said pouch depending downwardly from saidring member and being located inside of said flange, a metallic meshpouch including a plurality of link members substantially covering saidfirst mentioned pouch, and means connected to said link members and saidflange for securing said pouch to said supporting ring.

10. In an article of the class described, in combination, a ring membersubstantially U-shaped in cross section having its spaced edgesextending inwardly toward the center thereof, a pouch impervious to facepowder or the like secured to said ring member, an annular part having aportion extending between the edges of said ring member and grippedthereby and another portion depending downwardly therefrom outside ofsaid pouch, and a mesh pouch having substantially its edge portionconnected to said depending portion, said mesh pouch substantiallycovering said impervious pouch.

11. In an article of the class described, in combination, meansincluding a ring member substantially U-shaped in cross section andhaving its spaced edges extending inwardly toward the center thereof,the lower edge of said ring member extending further toward the centerthereof than the upper edge, and an annular flange member attachedthereto and depending downwardly therefrom, a pouch located within saidflange and having its edge portion gripped by said edges of said ringmember to form an annular ridge substantially adjacent the upper edgeportion of said ring member, and a mesh pouch covering said firstmentioned pouch and having its edge portion connected to said flange.

12. In an article of the class described, in combination, meansincluding a ring member substantially U-shaped in cross section andhaving its spaced edges extending inwardly toward the center thereof,the lower edge of said ring member extending further toward the centertherof than the upper edge, and an annular flange member attachedthereto and depending downwardly therefrom, a pouch located within saidflange and having its edge portion gripped by said edges of said ringmember to form an annular ridge substantially adjacent the upper edgeportion of said ring member, a mesh pouch covering said first mentionedpouch and having its edge portion connected to said flange, a coverhingedly connected to said ring member, and an annular ring connected tothe underside of said cover shaped and located to fit firmly againstsaid ridge when said cover is closed down upon said ring member.

13. In an article of the class described, in combination, meansincluding a ring member substantially U-shaped in cross section andhaving its spaced edges extending inwardly toward the center thereof,the lower edge of said ring member extending further toward the centerthereof than the upper edge, and an annular flange member attachedthereto and depending downwardly therefrom, a soft flexible imperviouspouch located within said flange and having its edge portion gripped bysaid edges of said ring member to form an annular ridge substantiallyadjacent the upper edge portion of said ring member, said ridge having asubstantially smooth and unruiiled surface, a mesh pouch covering saidfirst mentioned pouch and having its edge portion connected to saidflange, a cover hingedly connected to said ring member, and an annularrigid ring connected to the underside of said cover shaped and locatedto fit firmly against said ridge when said cover is closed down uponsaid ring member, whereby powder within said impervious pouch isretained therein by the gasket fit between said ridge and said lastmentioned ring when said cover is closed down on. said ring member.

14. In an article of the class described, in combination, an annularmetallic ring substantially U-shaped in cross section, a pouchimpervious to face powder or the like having its edge portion disposedbetween and secured within the edges of said ring, support means securedin said ring having openings formed therein, a piece of mesh including aplurality of links covering said pouch, and circular means extendingthrough some of said links along the edge portion of said mesh andthrough said openings to secure said mesh to said means.

15. In an article of the class described, in combination, an annularmetallic ring substantially U-shaped in cross section, the edges of saidring extending towards the center thereof, a pouch impervious to facepowder or the like having its edge portion disposed between and securedwithin the edges of said ring, support means secured in said ring havingopenings formed therein, a piece of mesh including a plurality of linkscovering said pouch, and circular means extending through some of saidlinks along the edge portion of said mesh and through said openings tosecure said mesh to said means.

16. In an article of the class described, in combination, means forminga substantially circular metallic ring including an annular downwardlydepending flange, and a lined metallic mesh pouch having its edgeportion secured to said flange.

17. In an article of the class described, in combination, asubstantially circular metallic ring means including an annular portionhaving a plurality of perforations formed therein, a lined metallic meshpouch comprising a plurality of link members, and means connected tosaid pouch and extending through said perforations for securing saidpouch to said ring member.

18. In an article of the class described, in combination, meansincluding a substantially circular metallic ring substantially U-shapedin cross section, a pouch impervious to face powder or the like havingits edge portion disposed between the open edges of said ring, the lowerportion of said means having perforations formed therein, a piece ofmesh including a plurality of links covering said pouch, and circularmeans extending through some of said links along the edge portion ofsaid mesh and through said perforations to secure said mesh to saidmeans.

ALFRED F. REILLY.

